There’s a very real possibility that each and every one of you reading this has some sort of smart assistant at home. Even if you don’t, there’s one built into the phone you could be reading this on. The ubiquitous technology isn’t going anywhere any time soon, but that doesn’t mean it can’t get prettier or less intrusive. That’s the aim of mui, the new smart home control hub, speaker (that works with Alexa and Google) and digital display out of Japan that’s currently taking CES by storm (it already won an Innovation Award). The first thing you’re going to notice is the most obvious–it’s made out of wood. The unassuming natural wood bar mounts to your wall and activates with a simple swipe of your hand. Once you wake mui up, you have access to weather, calendar, smart home devices, messages, Google Assistant and a plethora of other information you can configure yourself with IFTTT. They think of it as a calmer, less intrusive smart home option that won’t get you hooked. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also significantly prettier than every other option on the market.
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Huckberry’s Essential Holiday Gift Guide
Unzip your coat and have some mulled wine on the house—you’ve arrived at your final gifting destination: The Holiday Gift Guide. It’s like your friendly neighborhood one-stop holiday shop, except instead of balsa wood ornaments, ours is packed with thoughtful gifts for everyone on your list. Future heirlooms, small-but-significant stocking stuffers, and gear for getting out there (or staying in)—are all right here. There’s no music playing in the background though, so you’ll just have to hum Bing Crosby while you click around instead.
